Very happy to see three groomers working on getting the ski slope ready. Made two laps on the fresh groomers. Started to rain at 1:45 as I was driving home. Francine hooked up with me for the second lap.

Met Greg in Four Corners, Maple Valley at 8:15. Greg was driving his newer Audi wagon, so he insisted on driving. The benfit of absolutely no new snow, meant that we could take the back way to Paradise. We went out through Greenwater on 410, then took the Stevens Canyon road up to Paradise. Due to the cold temps we have been having there was quite a bit of frozen waterfalls and plenty of ice falling on to the roadway, especially near the tunnel entrances. Ski approach from Paradise parking lot, was much longer than year's past. We kept our sneakers on until above Pebble Creek. Finally stuck our skis on about 7,400. Traversed up and over to 8,200 feet and the Nisqually chute entrance. Chute was smooth and steep. We made the mistake of transitioning from skinning to downhill mode, far to close to the chute entrance. The snow was very firm and a fall here, would have put a person sliding through the rocks adjacent to the chute proper. Luckily I had a small rock, jutting out of the snow to perch on. I am not quite sure how Greg maintained his balance during his transition. Chute skied firm but well. 2000 feet of descent. A whole day of travel and hiking for only 2k of skiing. Oh well, weather was super pleasant, and good to get out with Greg. Day NUMERO Uno for new season!

Wenatchee Day 2. Rain up near Mission Ridge Ski area meant we couldn't ride up by Marion/Clara Lakes and the top of the Mission Ridge/Devils Gulch loops, so we stayed low and made our way to the Sage Hills System. Parked at the bottom by Sage Hills Road. We were hoping to make the climb all the way to the Apricot Crisp Trail so we could descend the Lightning Trail back into the Sage Hills trail system, but we were turned around by extreme wind and rain. Of course we didn't know that the system would blow over. 14.5 miles. 3,796 feet of total elevation.